Still alive into the New Year

I can barely believe we are into the 21st century, and now already into 2022! WoW!!

Sheila and I are well - thank goodness - and we still wear a mask at the ready hanging around our necks. That way we know the masks are readily available and easy to begin wearing; all we need to do is pull the mask up and viola, we are protected!

It's been a "mild" Winter in western New York, with little or no snowfall at all during the period of Autumn's end till the end of 2021. Though the Winter here was cold - it's been freezing even through the Autumn, it was eventually record-breaking snowfall in the area, though the highest snowfall fell close to the end of December and into January. In a normal area Winter, we'll get regular snowfall most every week, and the records show that in a regular Winter, we get an average of 63" of snow. This current Winter we got just a few snowfalls that started at the end of December and continued into January, but that amount we got in those few snowfalls totalled over 80"!! WoW!!

Yes, as you can guess, we got out into the snow to get a few snaps. Of course! Winter is absolutely a thrill to see and get out into, and though it's just a very few times I've lived in a snowy location, it is always nice. Last Winter of 2020-2021, I got what I thought was a bit of frostbite on both feet though the left foot was affected more. That kinda "healed" slowly and all was "well" by August. This current Winter the signs of frostbite returned - going out into the snow didn't help at all, and after having my poor black and blue feet almost healed, I had thought, but still looked as bad as it was almost a year earlier! My feet were seen by a foot doctor in early February, who did not say it wasn't frostbite, but didn't say it was. The doctor also pointed out a foot problem with both feet, probably attributed to my wearing sockless and archless footwear for a few years. I was then fitted with custom insoles for my shoes, and amazingly enough, though I've been using that new arch for just a few weeks, the arch and foot problem is healing quicker than I would have imagined! I started with those zero arch shoes about a decade ago, going from very thin and flat running shoes, and eventually moving up to flat archless hiking shoes. Though I felt NO pain in the arches of both feet, it eventually gave me problems that - though I never thought it was major - caused enough problems for me to see a doctor, and I am glad I finally did!

I remember the first year I began wearing those flat archless shoes while living on the West Coast. I took those shoes to Spain, where I have a few friends nearby my location in SW Spain who run on a regular basis, and they all stared at those flat shoes I wore, and warned of pain and bad arches! As I mentioned before, I've never experienced pain, but unknown to me, the problems were apparently building up! I haven't wore those flat shoes in many years, but am now feeling the distress of having worn them!! Beware!!

Otherwise, life is going as well as can be expected. We are grateful to be well during these past years, and I think good health should never be taken for granted. Hoping you and yours will remain safe, and till the next time!

    The river ice is nearly gone and daytime temps are warmer, Can't wait till Spring!